Method of forming separable fastener stringers



L. H. MQREN METHOD OF FORMINGSEPARABLE FASTENER STRINGERS Filed Jan. 17, 1945 INVENTOR Lou/s H MOE/N ATTORNE Watershed Jan. 24, 1950 UNITED STATES FATENT QFFECE METHOD OF FORMING SEPARABLE FASTENER STRINGERS 16 Claims.

This invention relates to separable fastener stringers wherein the scoops and end stops of the'stringers are die cast directly on the stringer tape. More particularly, the invention deals with the method of producing stringers of the kind defined wherein a stringer length is formed from a predetermined number of groups of cast scoops in defining the stringer-length, and wherein in forming one end group of castings in a stringer length, an end stop is simultaneously formed in the operation of casting said end group of scoops, thereby producinga finished stop end on at least one end of each stringer. The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying'drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views; and in which:

Fig. 1 is a face view of astringer tape and one part of a die illustrating the method of forming stringer lengths on the tape and diagrammatically illustrating the scoops.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing another method of procedure and indicating a part of a gooseneck in section and also indicating a part of the tape gripper and feed mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing only part of the construction and. with parts in a diff erent. position.

Fig. 4' is a perspective View of the discharge nozzle of a slightly modified form of gooseneck; and.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed view of the edge portion of one end of a stringer showing the type of scoops and. end stop formed. in accordance with the illustrations in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.

Inthemanufacture of stringers of separable fasteners of the kind. under consideration, it has been the common practice to form scoops on the beaded edge of the stringer tape or to attach scoops thereon in. defining what is termed stringer scoop length. to add an additional cast portion simultaneously in forming the last casting to produce an end stop at one end of each stringer. This is accomplished in a continuous method and particularly in a method where groups of scoops are formed in each casting operation; each group defining a predetermined increment usually in the measurement of an inch, in view of the fact that fastener stringers are commonly produced in inches.

In Fig. 1 of'the drawingI have shown one adaptation of the invention, and in this figure, I0 represents one part of a die, the face or impression surface of the die being shown. This die has a plurality of cavities H for forming a plurality of scoops 12 on the beaded edge !3 of a stringer tape it, as well as a cavity 15 for forming an end stop it commonly referred to as a top stop at one end of each stringer length on the tape I4. At H is shown a large gate cavity having a single admission opening I8 through which casting material is injected into the cavity I! from the nozzle ill of the gooseneck of a die casting machine. Extending from the gate cavity I! are a plurality of small gate passages 20 which lead to the cavities H for forming the cast scoops 12. Another small gate passage 2! is arranged at one end of the die and opens into the cavity IE to form the cast stop it. The cavity I1 is cylindrical in form in the construction shown, and opens through the upper end of the die. In this cavity is arranged a shut-on rod or control pin 22 movable with respect to the die from the full line position indicated in Fig. 1 to the dotted line position, in which latter position it closes off the gate passage 2!.

The scoops 52, as well as the stop It are diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1, and these scoops, and the stop it are preferably of the cross sectional contour shown in detail in Fig. 5 of the drawing; in which the stop l6 and two of the scoops i2 are illustrated. The scoops 12 are of V-shaped cross sectional form, or what I term coreless type of scoops, the V-shaped contour providing a longitudinal channel or female coupling portion 23 longitudinally of the lower surface-of the scoops and a raised ridge 24 at the upper edge thereof forming the male coupling portion of the scoops.

When a plurality of scoops, or what might be termed a group. of scoops are formed simultaneously in each. casting operation of'the machine,

as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it

is essentialthat these scoops be of the coreless type, such as the V-shaped cross sectional form illustrated in Fig. in order to remove the scoops from the die cavities I when the dies are separated. It will also appear that the stop I5 is of the same general V-shaped cross sectional contour as the scoops l2. In other words, a stop is provided with a V-shaped recess with the lower surface thereof and the corresponding ridge 23 at the upper surface thereof.

The method of producing stringers or tringer lengths on a long tape according to the teachings in Fig. 1 will be substantially as follows:

A predetermined number of groups of scoop castings will be formed at spaced intervals along the beaded edge l3 of the tape l4 until the desired stringer length has been obtained. After the formation of a group of castings with the blocking pin 22 in a lowered position in the passage ll, blocking Off the passage 2!, the dies are separated and the tape with the group of castings thereon is moved downwardly arranging the uppermost casting of the group in predetermined position with respect to the lower surface of the die so as to space the uppermost cast scoop of one group in proper spaced relationship to the lowermost cavity H of the die to provide equal spacing of all scoops in a stringer length. The dies again close, and another group of cast scoops are formed and this operation is continued until it is desired to form the last group of the stringer lengths. In this last operation, the pin 22 is moved into the full line position shown in Fig. 1, exposing the passage 2| to the passage I! and in forming the last group of scoops, the end stops IE will be simultaneously formed therewith, as illustrated in the drawing. Upon the completion of this last cast group of castings including the stop IS, the dies are separated and the tape is then moved a greater distance to provide a Wide spacing, as at 2'! on the tape to space one stringer length from the next adjacent stringer length. In Fig. 1 of the drawing, the upper end portion of a preformed stringer length is shown below the wide tape spacing 21, and the lower portion of the next adjacent stringer is shown above said spacing. After the castings have been formed, the gate portions 28 are trimmed off, thus leaving the scoops l2 and end stop I6 only upon the tape.

In Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive is shown another method of procedure. In view of the fact that the resulting product or stringers in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing will be the same as that shown in Fig. 1, the scoops are identified as E2, the beaded edge as l3, and the tape as I l. The only difference in the latter figures being in the manner of obtaining the desired result and not in the structure of the finished product. In Figs. 2 and 3, the scoops i2 are only diagrammatically illustrated in order to simplify the illustration in the accompanying drawing, but here again, these scoops may be of the structure shown in Fig. 5, and this is also true of the end stop I6 as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

In Fig. 1, each casting comprises a group of eight castings. However, in Figs. 2 and 3, each casting comprises a group of nine scoops. In this connection, it will be understood that the number of scoops formed in each casting operation will vary, particularly in forming large and small scoops. It may also vary in the length of the increments employed, but in this connection, it will also be apparent that the particular structure of the added casting as at l6 and I6 may be varied to suit the results which are required or the particular type and kind of end stop formed. As a matter of fact, from a more general standpoint, it must be understood that my method deals with the formation of successive castings or groups of castings in a completely automatic die casting machine and then at intervals to proceed to add to one of the castings or groups of castings a supplemental cast member or body, particularly of a contour different from that of the other casting or castings formed.

In Figs. 2 and 3, I employ a die structure 29 differing from the die ID in employing two gate passages 38 and 3| adapted for registration with a nozzle 32, Fig. 3, of a gooseneck, part of which is shown at 33. In both Figs. 2 and 3, the passage 30 opens into a large passage 34 having branches 35 registering with scoop cavities 33. The passage 3| leads directly to a cavity 3? for forming the end stop Hi. In other words, with the die structure shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a blocking pin such as the pin 22 is not employed and the desired result is accomplished by controlling movement of the gooseneck 33 and the nozzle 32 thereof over the surface of the die 23.

In Figs. 2 and 3, the nozzle has-vertically arranged discharge ports 38 and 33 registering with the discharge passage 4!! of the nozzle. In forming the groups of castings only, the casting material is dischar-ged from the passage 38 into the passage 30, the passage 39 being sealed upon the face of the die and this position is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. In these casting operations, no casting material enters the passage 3| and cavity 31, therefore, end stops cannot be formed. However, in forming the last group of cast scoops, forming the stringer length, the nozzle 32 is simply moved upwardly so as to bring the passage 39 in registering position with the passage 30 and the passage 38 in registering position with the passage 3|. Thus in forming the last group of cast scoops, casting material will extend into the cavity 39 in forming the top stop I6 shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

The only difference between the structure of Figs. 2 and 3, and the structure of Fig. 4, is in the type of nozzle employed. In Fig. 4, a nozzle 3| is employed which has at one side thereof a single discharge 42 adapted to register with the passage 36, whereas the upper blank surface 43 of the nozzle will be arranged over the passage 3|. At the other side of the nozzle 41 are two vertically alined passages 44 and 65. It will thus be seen that by shifting the nozzle across the surface of the die, the passage 44 may be brought into registering alinement with the passage 30, and at the same time, the passage 35 will register with the passage 3|. In this last position, casting material will be simultaneously injected into the scoop cavities 36 and also into the cavity 3'! in forming the cast end stop l6 as illustrated in Fig. 3. In other words, in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, the nozzle moves vertically over the surface of the die in controlling the different casting operations, and in Fig. 4, the nozzle moves laterally over the surface of the die for the same purpose.

The die structure illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 constitute one of the distinctive features of my invention, particularly in providing independent gate passages extending to the cavities of two difierent contours. That is to say, the passage 30 which extends to the scoop cavity 36 and the passage 3| leading to the cavity 31. With this type of die construction I also employ novel discharge nozzles, one with two discharge passages,

ampere 551-; such ias 38 F and? 3 9 shown. inzFi'gs; Zhndiiand'thes: other withthezthree discharge passage s14 and; t; as in'rFigmi By-simply movingth'ezsuriaoeioi theedischargeendnf the nozzlepinrabutting reiationship; over'tlie surfaceaofi'theediesaverticale 5 ly or laterally," or'rinufaet' in any-desired manner; the discharge passages: of the nozzle mayI be brought-into registering alinement with the gate passages in the manner described;-

Wh'ile i in" the accompanying 'zdrawin'g l "have: illustrated several adaptations 0fmy: invention; a it willhe-"understoodahat they are only by ways; of" example; as "my: invention isadapted: for? the? formation of castings of itdifierent contour-s ime" single=pair off'dies and a control is provided: for governing the formationof the respective cast ings of different contours one with respect to-the other; in successive casting operations of the machines.

In "Fig'12' of the drawing, I" have shown part of a tape g-ripper and feed mechanismrincluding a jaw"portion $6 for engagingand gripping the tape; and'a supporting andoperating rod 41 with which the jaw portion ifi-iscoupled througha': yoke shaped block d8. The particular' means for actuating the'gripper and feedlmechanism is not illustrated as it forms noparticular part'of the inventionr Th'ismechanism provides theincre ment feed ofv the tape as wellas the Wide'spa'cing feed thereef, asfor example-the spacinghdesignated' b'y the-reference-character '21 in Fig: 1 of 'thedraWing?'-' Having "'fullir 'described 'm-y invention, What I I clairzr' as new "and" de'sire to secure: by Letters Patent is:

1. vThe method of forming separablefastener stringersby' die'castinggroups 'of scoops'along 7' one-edge of 7a stringer tape which comprises: placing said Y tape edge in' die casting" position relative" to' a die, said-die having-"scoop" cavities therein and a cavity forforming an end "stop; in-2- jeeting casting material to "said 'scoop cavities by: means of a nozzle in contact-with said 'die;-there-* by forming a group of scoops-on said tape edge,

thereafter *repea-ting the -foregoingoperations to I form" a predetermined number of successive groups of" scoops on saidtapeedge, and then" casting a'final group of scoops upon said tapeedge to produceapredeterminedstringerdength, said final casting being accomplished by injecting casting'rnaterial tOI'Said scoopcavities and" said: end stop cavity by, realinement'fof saidfn'ozzlerim' contactwith'said die."

2.- The method of iormingiseparable "fastener" stringers by; die casting; groups oftlscoops 'alon' one edge of"'a stringer tape which comprises placing said tape edge and a die. in "die casting; position relative to a die, said dieihavingfscoop; cavities .tl'ierein and'a cavity for formingflfanlend. stop,= injecting in one casting voperation xcastihg material .only into saidnscoop, cavitis, thereby, forming a group of scoops on said tape edge, suce cessively forming upon said tapeiedge. asplurality. of said group of scoops andlthenscasting afinal l group'of .scoops and an end stop upon said tape: edgeto produce a predetermined stringer length, said finals group of l scoopsocontaimngi the; same number-of scoops as ans oisaid preceding glioupsasaidfinal :castin'g being accomplished Toy/inject ing, casting materia1 simultaneously inter-said; scoop cavities and saidendistop cavity,

3:. The: method: coi producing, in; alz'successive' series ofzlcastingmperationspstringer "lengths r cludinggamend. stop; at one .end'bfreaclo stringers.

whiclt comprisesremployingiazdie haring a precise:- termhiedsonumberysofzscoop:cavitiesethereimand; a cavity? ma- -formings an end; .1 stop, a placing a:- i strin'gerritape' edgezir'roaP diescastingzip-qsitiont'retake tive to said die, injecting casting material tO'St'hE-Z" cavities of saidzdievby meanstofc-a :nozzlezin ;c0n+-f tactawithithez die,asaid:injectionzbeing' controlled 1 bysinterruptingzthe new of casting :material be= tween saidinozzleiand saidt'endstop. cavity,"form ing. ins a predeterminedaseries itofl: casting opera tions only groupss oficast'scoops "on the :stringer tape and" .thenfin zone casting operation injecting casting materiai into-"both theiscoop'cavities'iand the 1 endffstop"- =cavity to? forml simultaneously a:-

V group-mt scoops and a :'die--cast"end'istop OnL'bh'e stringer-tape 4. Theimethod ioff,producing=; in a: successiveiseries of casting operations;stringer 'ilengthstma cluding 'azr-end stop at one end of each" stringer;- whiclr comprisesqalacingaa stringer tape edge'in'ai. die' castingiposition relative to a die; saidtudie' having"a predetemnined number: ofiscoop cavities; thereinanda' cavity'fo'r formingvan end stop, said" groupof't scoop cavitiesand'said end stop cavity I having gate passages connecting them to a oast ing mater ial@injector; injecting oasting material 1 only toothe group of T scoop cavities bvblocking the gate passage to the end stop cavityycasting a series of isaid: groups "ofscoopson i'tiie? tape;

them opening "the gate passage to the end; stop cavity 'and casting onithe' tape' ina single casting step a group of scoops I and: am end stop to? forma stringerii 5. Themethod;iof producing; in:- asuccessive series"? of :castingz operationsj stringer" lengths in cluding andrend stop at one end of-Leach stringer; which comprises plaoing a stringer 'tape edge in a die casting" position relative toa die; said die having-a1 predetermined number of scoop cavities therein an'ds a 'cavi-ty for forming" an end stop, said group of scoop cavities and 'said'end stop cavity having? independent gatepassagesv connectin'gthem to -a casting material injector, intjecting castingmaterial only to the group of scoop cavities by? first moving the injector' intoi alinement" with-:the; gate passage to the scoop cavities anda outof al-inement with the gate passage'-':=to:;the :end': stop cavity, casting-*a *series of" said groupsiof scoops on the tape; then moving 0 i the'injector tihttia al-inement with both saidflgate i to the die.'faceiand thenrinjecting "casting material throughsaidifi'rst passage and: also througha sec- 0nd;passageirr saidnie leadingito a second typeJ-t' of 'cavity' to simultaneoush'r formlcastings 'cor= respondingetci botlr saidf first and; second? types of cavities;

7. The method of forming a successive series offsimilar a-castingsand then tofaddi to the-series,=. at.rpredetermin'edeintervals; 'a'a'difie'rent casting; which; comprises injecting "casting material;

" throughia :first zpa'ssageEm a pair -'of diesl-having cavitiesfiof: d-ifierent contour; said-passage Ileading to cavitiesofione rcontourg" thus forming a series-:- of izcastingsioflsaid contour, forming asuccessive serie's1=ofisaidscastingsztheniinjectingi.castingsmas terialifsimultaneouslyi through said-i first" passageq== and also through a second passage in said dies, said second passage leading to a cavity of another contour, thus forming a series of said first-mentioned castings and also a casting of a diiferent contour.

8. The method of forming castings of different contour on an elongated mounting member by means of a die having cavities defining castings of difierent contour, which comprises injecting casting material to die cavities of a first contour in successive die casting operations to form castings of said first contour, and then injecting casting material to die cavities of said first and of a second contour in one operation to form castings of said first contour and of said second contour with the latter disposed at one end of-said castings of the first contour, and then repeating said casting operations.

9. The method of forming a predetermined number of cast devices on a mounting memher by the use of a single mold having a plurality of cavities therein each connected by a passageway to a surface of the mold, each cavity defining one of said devices, and said cavities being of more than one contour, which comprises placing said mold and. mountin member in casting position relative to each other, injecting casting material into the cavities of said mold through said surface while maintaining passageways open only to the cavities of a first contour, thereby casting upon said mounting member a group of said devices characterized by the cavities of said first contour, successively forming upon said mounting member a plurality of said group of devices, thereafter in a final casting operation injecting casting material into the cavities of said mold while maintaining passageways open to cavities of said first and of a second contour so as to cast upon said mounting member a group of devices characterized by the cavities of said first and second contours.

10. The method of forming a predetermined number of cast devices on a mounting member by the use of a single mold having a plurality of cavities therein each connected by a passageway to a surface of the mold, each cavity defining one of said devices, and said cavities being of more than one contour, which comprises placing said mold and mounting member in casting position relative to each other, injecting casting material into the cavities of said mold through said surface whilemaintaining passageways open only to the cavities of a first contour, thereby casting upon said-mounting member a group of said devices characterized by the cavities of said'first contour, successively forming upon said mounting member a plurality of said group of devices,

thereafter in a final casting operation injecting casting material into the cavities of said mold while maintaining passageways open to cavities of said first and of a second contour so as to cast upon said mounting member a group of devices characterized by the cavities of said first and second contours, the number of cast devices in said iast group being greater than in any of said prior groups.

11. The method of forming a predetermined number of castdevices on a mounting member by the use of a single mold having a plurality of cavities therein each connected by a passageway to a surface of the mold, each cavity defining one of said devices, and said cavities being of more than one contour, which comprises placing said mold and mounting member in casting position relative to each other, injecting casting material into the cavities of said mold through said surface while maintaining passageways open only to the cavities of a first contour, thereby casting upon said mounting member a group of said devices characterized by the cavities of said first contour, successively forming upon said mounting member a plurality of said group of devices, thereafter in a final casting operation injecting casting material into the cavities of said mold while maintaining passageways open to cavities of said first and of a second contour so as to cast upon said mounting member a group of devices characterized by the cavities of said first and second contours, and then feeding the mounting member to widely space the same preparatory to forming another predetermined number of cast devices thereon.

12. In die casting machines employing a pair of dies having cavities of diiferent contour,-said dies having independent gate passages, one leading to a cavity of one contour, and the other to a cavity of a difierent contour, an injector nozzle having independent discharge passages, said nozzle being in contact with the dies and movable relatively thereto, during said contact to bring into only one of said gate passages to formacasting of one contour, and in another position of said nozzle, both discharge passages are in registering alinement withboth gate passages to simultaneously form castings of both contour insaid dies.

13. In die casting machines employing a pair of dies having cavities of different contour, said dies having independent gate passages, one leading to a cavity of one contour, and the other to a cavity of a difierent contour, an injector nozzle having independent discharge passages, said nozzle, casting material is injected into both and movable relatively thereto to bring the discharge passages of the nozzle in registering alinement with the independent gate passages of said dies, whereby in one position of the nozzle relative to the dies, casting material is injected into only one of said gate passages to form a casting of one contour, and in another position of said nozzle, casting material is injected into both gate passages to simultaneously form castings of difierent contour in said dies, the discharge passages of the nozzle being scalable by the surface of the dies when said passages are in non-registering position with the respective gate passages.

14. In die casting machines employing a pair of dies having a group of cavities all of one contour and an independent cavity of different contour, said dies having independent gate passages, one leading to all of the cavities in said group and the other to the second named cavity, an injector nozzle having independent discharge passages, said nozzle being in contact with a surface of the dies and movable relatively thereto, while in contact therewith, to bring the discharge passages of the nozzle in registering alinement with the independent gate passages of said dies, whereby in one position of the nozzle on the dies, casting material is injected into only one of said gate passages, and whereby inthe other position of said nozzle, casting material is injected into both of said gate passages.

independent cavities in the dies, of a nozzle for 16. In die casting machines employing dies having independent gate passages into which casting material is adapted to be injected, a discharge nozzle for injecting casting material into gate passages of said dies, said nozzle having independent discharges, and said nozzle being movable relatively to a surface of the dies while in contact therewith for controlling discharge of casting material from the nozzle passages into one and both of the gate passages of said dies.

LOUIS H. MORIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,234,185 Marinsky et a1. Mar. 11, 1941 2,368,260 Morin Jan. 30, 1945 15 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 697,034 Germany Oct. 4, 1940 Certificate of Correction Potent No. 2,495,592 January 24, 1950 LOUIS H. MORIN It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 8, line 42, strike out the comma and words casting meterial is injected into both and insert instead being in contact with a surface of the dtes;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the some may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oifice.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of May, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommz'ssioner of Patents. 

